A group of eight proceeds into a run-down mall scavenging for some supplies. Everyone was equipped with at least two torchlights as malls were known to be pitch black after the huge blackout. Most of the small markets have been looted already and scavengers would usually avoid large malls such as this one - if they did not wish to encounter anything lurking in the darkness. The group decided to loot one of the shops on the second floor which might have held some food. Arz volunteers to be the vanguard since he is familiar with the mall’s layout as he occasionally spent most of his time around here before everything turned to hell. Slowly and silently, the group moves toward the escalator and into the corridor where the shop was located.

There, IT stands tall. An amalgam of flesh and horror twisted from which was once in the form of a human being. The eye sockets as vast and empty like darkness of the night itself, with blood seeping out, dripping onto the floor. All of a sudden, IT’s maws gape wide open, seemingly trying to swallow them whole. And with it, a deafening shriek; A sound so cold, stunning, and piercing. As they try to cover their ears, they could still hear the shriek under their trembling hands, except for Maiev who was born deaf. She could feel the vibrations through the cold air, sending shivers down her spine. Her eyes begin to widen.

The creature is blind, but It is not oblivious to the surroundings. It listens to the footsteps and heartbeat of those whom It considers to be the prey. Living creatures have fight or flight response embedded in their body. The ear-shattering shriek is designed to trigger said responses which in turn causes the prey’s heart to race uncontrollably faster.

Maiev readies her rifle, with a singular purpose: taking the creature down without a moment wasted. As a sniper, one must always keep their breathing and heart rate in check. She steadies her stance, and draws her breath with calmness and precision. Understanding that if her aim were to shamble, it would put everyone’s lives at risk.

It lunges towards the group, sprinting closer to Arz, the vanguard closest to the creature. Still trying to recover from the unbearable fear, Arz stumbles as he tries to ready his short spear. The hastened, pulsating heartbeat is sensed by the creature, which is barely three meters in front of Arz as It hurls towards him. Just a moment before the sharpened claw reaches ITs victim, the creature senses something is wrong. Amidst the confusion, one heartbeat is still. This is the first time one of IT’s victim behaved that way.

The sound of gunshot - resolute. Aimed towards the head of the creature that is merely two meters away from Arz, and eight meters away from Maiev. No living being would have the reaction speed fast enough to dodge a projectile that would reach in less than a tenth of a second. However, the creature is nowhere in sight as It disappears into the darkness, never to be seen again.